A Few Pepperdine Thoughts

[Hungry Jack]

This strikes me as a team that, for now, is playing to the level of its competition. I am really curious to see how things go from here. 68 points at home against a bad Pepperdine team is unimpressive, but we have enough parts to have a respectable offfense.

Leach is not going to create a lot off the dribble. But I love him as a shooter. His stroke is very natural and he seems to have some moxie.

I am hopeful we can run offensive sets through BB and Nick, with Berry and Leach working off screens and occasional cuts.

Nick is a very intense competitor. He is crazy driven. He is playing smart too.

Ty will be a different player in a few weeks. He came back sooner than expected. I don’t think he trusts his knee yet.

Mullins is our best defender. He had a big role in shutting down Todorivic. I think that if our offense evolves, he will find some traction as a slasher/cutter.

Great to see CCC empty the bench. Fitzmorris is a whirling dervish of arms and legs. It’s entertaining if not effective.

The most comedic point of the game was when that big center from Mali, who probably speaks 19 languages, scored on a long fast break outlet after a missed shot.

Ran into Wilbon and Revsine after the game. Wilbon is optimistic about this team.

EDIT: on the final possession last night, we had KJ, Ciarivino, FitzMorris, Smith and Hurlburt on the floor. I felt like I was watching Little Hungry’s middle school team. After 15 or 20 seconds of a Chinese fire drill, Ciarivino saw the shot clock winding down, and did a nice dribble drive penetration into the paint, where he kicked it out to KJ in the corner for a wide open three. Unfortunately, KJ’s shot rimmed out. But for me, KJ and Ciarivno working together to create a good opportunity was a glimpse of the future.

 

[hdhntr1]

This strikes me as a team that, for now, is playing to the level of its competition. I am really curious to see how things go from here. 68 points at home against a bad Pepperdine team is unimpressive, but we have enough parts to have a respectable offfense.

Leach is not going to create a lot off the dribble. But I love him as a shooter. His stroke is very natural and he seems to have some moxie.

I am hopeful we can run offensive sets through BB and Nick, with Berry and Leach working off screens and occasional cuts.

Nick is a very intense competitor. He is crazy driven. He is playing smart too.

Ty will be a different player in a few weeks. He came back sooner than expected. I don’t think he trusts his knee yet.

Mullins is our best defender. He had a big role in shutting down Todorivic. I think that if our offense evolves, he will find some traction as a slasher/cutter.

Great to see CCC empty the bench. Fitzmorris is a whirling dervish of arms and legs. It’s entertaining if not effective.

Ran into Wilbon and Revsine after the game. Wilbon is optimistic about this team.

We still play way to much one on one People drive in and you just know they are going to try to shoot regardless of what they are facing. Defense collapses on them and they still are not looking for anyone open. They have blinders on. We are getting assists on only about half of our baskets (and even that seems high). That might work on the likes of Pepperdine but hard to see it being successful against BIG teams. Does not help that our 3 pt shooting is basically non existent.

 

[SDakaGordie]

We still play way to much one on one People drive in and you just know they are going to try to shoot regardless of what they are facing. Defense collapses on them and they still are not looking for anyone open. They have blinders on. We are getting assists on only about half of our baskets (and even that seems high). That might work on the likes of Pepperdine but hard to see it being successful against BIG teams. Does not help that our 3 pt shooting is basically non existent.

To me, the key is getting quality shots. It seems like we are getting them at a very high rate and just missing more of them than we’d like at this point. We will improve the shooting.

 

[SDakaGordie]

This strikes me as a team that, for now, is playing to the level of its competition. I am really curious to see how things go from here. 68 points at home against a bad Pepperdine team is unimpressive, but we have enough parts to have a respectable offfense.

Leach is not going to create a lot off the dribble. But I love him as a shooter. His stroke is very natural and he seems to have some moxie.

I am hopeful we can run offensive sets through BB and Nick, with Berry and Leach working off screens and occasional cuts.

Nick is a very intense competitor. He is crazy driven. He is playing smart too.

Ty will be a different player in a few weeks. He came back sooner than expected. I don’t think he trusts his knee yet.

Mullins is our best defender. He had a big role in shutting down Todorivic. I think that if our offense evolves, he will find some traction as a slasher/cutter.

Great to see CCC empty the bench. Fitzmorris is a whirling dervish of arms and legs. It’s entertaining if not effective.

Ran into Wilbon and Revsine after the game. Wilbon is optimistic about this team.

Agree with everything except Leach - he can be / has been successful with dribble drives. Not the best passer when doing so, but he can finish at the rim and can also pull up for jumpers.

 

[loyolacat]

The successful seasons have been built offensively by guards that can drive, finish or dish. Mac and Boo.....But Martinelli is such a mis-match and Barnhizer is such a bull..but the good teams will double and they will have to find the open guy...hopefully someone who can hit the 3 on a consistent basis. Real plus that Mullins is turning into defensive stopper. When you can hang your hat on stopping the other teams best player puts less pressure on the O.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Agree with everything except Leach - he can be / has been successful with dribble drives. Not the best passer when doing so, but he can finish at the rim and can also pull up for jumpers.

I did not see the Dayton game, but that press flummoxed him, by all accounts. I imagine he will adjust to the speed of B1G guards to an extent, but I don’t see the explosiveness of a guy who can create shots off the dribble.

 

[macarthur31]

I really love the character of this team - the Captains - Martinelli, Barnhizer and Nicholson are just committed to winning, and they love seeing their teammates succeed. I loved seeing that moment last night where Leach hit that 3 by the 'Cats bench, and Berry was right there to give him an "atta-boy" shove after he made it - Ty was having a bad night, but he's still engaged. I still envision a 10-10 finish in the B1G, which means this vibe is going to anchor the team through this long season. That's not a bad season in this buzzsaw of the B1G, for me it's just acknowledging that the offensive ceiling of this team is just lower: we don't have a PG who can handle, get paint touches and make the right decisions virtually 100% of the time; we don't have 3 guys who can shoot near 40% 3FG; and to that end, we're just not going to have a huge margin for error.

We have to do alot of things right - that starts first on defense, forcing TOs to get easier transition buckets; it's limiting oppo to one and dones by protecting glass. It's also protecting the ball. It's likely playing longer possessions (in terms of tempo, we're 343rd in D1) so that we wear the defense out, but that also means we need to get quality looks or earn FTs. And when we get to the line, we gotta hit at 75% clip. Is this the hoops analogy of "Complementary Football?"

All this to say, when it's all said and done, the 'Cats may be in a bunch of 1-2 possession games, and hopefully that team culture will carry us through to be on the right side of those more often than not.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I was at the game last night... I didn't think we looked too good.
Pepperdine looked "not good."
Heard after the game that Pepperdine has been missing 3 of their better players all season so that explains their performance.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I was at the game last night... I didn't think we looked too good.
Pepperdine looked "not good."
Heard after the game that Pepperdine has been missing 3 of their better players all season so that explains their performance.

They lost all but 2 players from last year's team.

The guy I sat next too (longtime, devoted STH who only misses NU games for NIU games, as he lives in DeKalb and is a Husky) made a really interesting comment about Pepperdine. I doubt he saw my expertly research scouting report, but he noted that Pepperdine had 6 foreign born players on the roster. He said that a private school has that prerogative. He noted that last year, NIU had several foreign-born players on its roster, and it was quite controversial (at least within NIU circles). He did not approve.

I'm no nativist, but I see his point. On the one hand, foreign students spend a lot of money on US higher education (it is probably one of our best export industries). I know schools like IIT have depended on foreign students for many years to pay full tuition and deepen the applicant pool. But public institutions probably have to think twice about this strategy to an extent, at least when it comes to scholarships.

 

[SmellyCat]

We have to do alot of things right - that starts first on defense, forcing TOs to get easier transition buckets; it's limiting oppo to one and dones by protecting glass.

Feel like as the offensive doldrums extends to another game that NU is just going to have to be a defensive-minded team. They have the personnel to do it and they have done it before. If the offense comes around, great, but if NU wins games by scoring in the 50s or 60s, that's fine with me.

 

[hdhntr1]

To me, the key is getting quality shots. It seems like we are getting them at a very high rate and just missing more of them than we’d like at this point. We will improve the shooting.

Not saying that some were not quality but an awful lot were pretty contested but no even looking for someone to pass to 12 assists on 24 baskets. The Waves shooting was awful and that made things easier but just a little better shooting for them and game would have been a lot more like the last two

 

[TheC]

They lost all but 2 players from last year's team.

The guy I sat next too (longtime, devoted STH who only misses NU games for NIU games, as he lives in DeKalb and is a Husky) made a really interesting comment about Pepperdine. I doubt he saw my expertly research scouting report, but he noted that Pepperdine had 6 foreign born players on the roster. He said that a private school has that prerogative. He noted that last year, NIU had several foreign-born players on its roster, and it was quite controversial (at least within NIU circles). He did not approve.

I'm no nativist, but I see his point. On the one hand, foreign students spend a lot of money on US higher education (it is probably one of our best export industries). I know schools like IIT have depended on foreign students for many years to pay full tuition and deepen the applicant pool. But public institutions probably have to think twice about this strategy to an extent, at least when it comes to scholarships.

Our excellent university system in the US draws the world’s best and brightest. Many of them end up staying and contributing to our economy and society.

 

[Alvious]

Isn't "Playing to the level of your competition" the trademark of Chris Collins' tenure at Northwestern?

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Isn't "Playing to the level of your competition" the trademark of Chris Collins' tenure at Northwestern?

Had we played to the level of Pepperdine, Collins may have walked off the court and started cleaning out his office.
As it was, he was rather upbeat in the postgame press conference...

 

[hdhntr1]

The successful seasons have been built offensively by guards that can drive, finish or dish. Mac and Boo.....But Martinelli is such a mis-match and Barnhizer is such a bull..but the good teams will double and they will have to find the open guy...hopefully someone who can hit the 3 on a consistent basis. Real plus that Mullins is turning into defensive stopper. When you can hang your hat on stopping the other teams best player puts less pressure on the O.

Unfortunately they have yet to show much in the way of dishing

 

[catcrazy]

At this point Leach as a college basketball player is a finished product who is more of a shooting guard then point guard. The focus should be on KJ Windham to hone his skills and next year Jake West +/- transfer.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Our excellent university system in the US draws the world’s best and brightest. Many of them end up staying and contributing to our economy and society.

Sure do.

 

[EagerFan]

I see KJ as the future at point, but it’s hard to pull Leach when he’s 1/3 of our points. In non-con play, Leach looks like a great get for the team.

Watching Mullins last night, he is just so good defensively off the ball. He was doing a lot of stuff that doesn’t show in his stats, but messed up the offense effectively. He’s starting to take some ownership on offense as well. I’m excited to see if this Carrie’s into the B1G games.

Matt also decided to score instead of passing out automatically, with decent results. One of those layups involved a nice move and I didn’t think he has it in him.

Nick has such a soft, quick touch on his floaters I think a lot of defenders don’t even realize he’s shooting sometimes.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Nick has such a soft, quick touch on his floaters I think a lot of defenders don’t even realize he’s shooting sometimes.

Including at the free throw line when he jumps, then shoots!

 

[SDakaGordie]

Isn't "Playing to the level of your competition" the trademark of Chris Collins' tenure at Northwestern?

What does this even mean? Every D1 game is a test for us. Since when do we recruit guys that allow us to think we are just going to beat other teams consistently? Collins has done an amazing job for us to even think we should be beating teams with ease.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I see KJ as the future at point, but it’s hard to pull Leach when he’s 1/3 of our points. In non-con play, Leach looks like a great get for the team.

Watching Mullins last night, he is just so good defensively off the ball. He was doing a lot of stuff that doesn’t show in his stats, but messed up the offense effectively. He’s starting to take some ownership on offense as well. I’m excited to see if this Carrie’s into the B1G games.

Matt also decided to score instead of passing out automatically, with decent results. One of those layups involved a nice move and I didn’t think he has it in him.

Nick has such a soft, quick touch on his floaters I think a lot of defenders don’t even realize he’s shooting sometimes.

KJ is not ready yet, but I could see a point where he might be a better option against the press. He's certainly more explosive, and demonstrates a good handle. Above all, he does not seem to have any fear.

 

[NJcatsfan]

We need Matt and Ty to be better. Period.

 

[freewillie07]

We need Matt and Ty to be better. Period.

We’ll see what happens but I’m starting to think that Ty could be in a Robbie Beran situation. Get him some shots early — if they fall, he plays, if they don’t, get Mullins in there and hunker down on D.

Optimistic he will be better. I don’t think he can be benched just yet, but he could be better off as a sixth man who can light it up in a hurry if he’s hot.

 

[UpsetAlert]

Had we played to the level of Pepperdine, Collins may have walked off the court and started cleaning out his office.
As it was, he was rather upbeat in the postgame press conference...

I’m sorry what?

 

[EagerFan]

Including at the free throw line when he jumps, then shoots!

Yeah that does make me wince.

 

[EagerFan]

On a general note, Collins took the air out of the ball and started subbing the end of the bench with something like three minutes left in the game while Pepperdine kept their starters on the floor.

He actively chose not to run up the score and embarrass the visitors and ran a three minute practice at the end. So even tho the Cats played poorly, the 18 point difference doesn't really reflect the disparity between the teams that played last night.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

We’ll see what happens but I’m starting to think that Ty could be in a Robbie Beran situation.

Thats not nice.

 

[Catreporter]

Great article in the NYT today (by The Athletic) about how playing aggressive defense (in the NBA) all over the court takes quite a toll on the players physically. I wonder if tired legs could be responsible for our three point shooting woes, especially with Ty and Brooks coming off injuries that idled them for quite a while, Hopefully, they'll get back to their shooting norms going forward. And, it also makes me happy to see Collins going nine deep on his rotation the last two games.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Thats not nice.

I'm not ever sure what that even means. Ty has proven for an entire season that he can be an elite outside shooter. Beran never showed any exceptional offensive game.

I have it that Ty came back sooner than expected. He is still recovering and rebuilding his fitness. In time, he will return to form.

 

[MC_Cat]

I'm not ever sure what that even means. Ty has proven for an entire season that he can be an elite outside shooter. Beran never showed any exceptional offensive game.

I have it that Ty came back sooner than expected. He is still recovering and rebuilding his fitness. In time, he will return to form.

He's actually been able previously to create off his dribble for pull up jumpers which would be helpful in the current scheme, since he's not getting the kick out opportunities of past seasons. Midrange three and D should be his calling card. He's not a good finisher at the rim.

 

[NUera]

He's actually been able previously to create off his dribble for pull up jumpers which would be helpful in the current scheme, since he's not getting the kick out opportunities of past seasons. Midrange three and D should be his calling card. He's not a good finisher at the rim.

He’s also a pretty good defender when he’s moving and cutting confidently. All of these reasons are why that comparison was… not nice.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Our excellent university system in the US draws the world’s best and brightest. Many of them end up staying and contributing to our economy and society.

So does the NBA

 

[Sec.112]

We need Matt and Ty to be better. Period.

Let's hope TB comes around. I assume his four minutes in the 2nd half had as much to do with the two TOs and a REALLY dumb foul in those four minutes as it did with the play of Mullins and KJ.

There was a question about TB's minutes in the post game and Collins handled it very well. "We gotta get him going."

 

[SmellyCat]

Let's hope TB comes around. I assume his four minutes in the 2nd half had as much to do with the two TOs and a REALLY dumb foul in those four minutes as it did with the play of Mullins and KJ.

There was a question about TB's minutes in the post game and Collins handled it very well. "We gotta get him going."

My biggest worry about Berry so far has not been his shooting but instead his lazy passes. He had another one picked off Friday that then led to a three-point play (with him committing the aforementioned dumb foul). He seems to have at least one pass per game that needs to be crisper. They don't need to be so hard that his teammate can't catch them, but they are just too easy to intercept. Is this a "speed of the game" thing due to his conditioning/injury? Maybe, but I think he can stand to work on his passing, especially when bringing the ball up the court.

 

[macarthur31]

In terms of offense: so far this year, Brooks, Nick, Jalen have shown they can carry the team on any given night (albeit against sub-B1G opponents). Berry has shown he's got it in him - his 3 most productive games (in terms of points) in B1G last year:

• Loss @ Purdue: 25 on 14 (6/9 3FG), 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, ZERO TO in 38 min (OT Game)
• W @PSU: 16 on 8 (4/5 3FG), 5 reb, 2ast, 4stl, 2 TO in 35 min
• W vs MSU: 22 on 11 (4/7 3FG), 4 reb, 2ast, 2 stl, 1 TO in 35 min

In 2023:

• W @Nebraska: 26 on 17 (6/12 3FG), 3 reb, 2ast, 2 stl, 1 TO in 33 min
• W Iowa: 16 on 10 (3/6 3FG), 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 3TO in 35 min
• W Illinois: 13 on 6 (2/3 3FG), 1 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 1 TO in 24 min
  • he had 2 other B1G games w/13 points, but this was the fewest minutes

If healthy (and not in foul trouble), he's gonna log 30 min a game. We don't need Ty to carry the team every night, just to be a guy that the other team has to consider. Can he get 10-15 points a night, with an occasional 20+ night if he's killing it from 3? If so, we got a good shot at being .500 in the conference.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

In terms of offense: so far this year, Brooks, Nick, Jalen have shown they can carry the team on any given night (albeit against sub-B1G opponents). Berry has shown he's got it in him - his 3 most productive games (in terms of points) in B1G last year:

• Loss @ Purdue: 25 on 14 (6/9 3FG), 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, ZERO TO in 38 min (OT Game)
• W @PSU: 16 on 8 (4/5 3FG), 5 reb, 2ast, 4stl, 2 TO in 35 min
• W vs MSU: 22 on 11 (4/7 3FG), 4 reb, 2ast, 2 stl, 1 TO in 35 min

In 2023:

• W @Nebraska: 26 on 17 (6/12 3FG), 3 reb, 2ast, 2 stl, 1 TO in 33 min
• W Iowa: 16 on 10 (3/6 3FG), 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 3TO in 35 min
• W Illinois: 13 on 6 (2/3 3FG), 1 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 1 TO in 24 min
  • he had 2 other B1G games w/13 points, but this was the fewest minutes

If healthy (and not in foul trouble), he's gonna log 30 min a game. We don't need Ty to carry the team every night, just to be a guy that the other team has to consider. Can he get 10-15 points a night, with an occasional 20+ night if he's killing it from 3? If so, we got a good shot at being .500 in the conference.

Appreciate the numbers, but it may not play out that way. I don't see Ty Berry getting an average of 30 minutes a night - unless somebody gets hurt.

Given the performance of Mullins and Ciaravino (who will improve) and the need to get Windham minutes if possible (thinking of next year) - Berry loses playing time...

It seems to me that Collins is shifting his approach to having Leach (or eventually Windham) as the pseudo-point guard, with a bigger wing (Mullins/Ciaravino) and of course Martinelli and Barnhizer - and Nicholson.

Berry needs to start hitting 3's at a 40% clip to get the minutes you're talking about. But last year he benefitted from Langborg and Buie drawing a lot of attention on the perimeter. Its tougher this year - he's the #1 threat, so he'll be guarded more tightly.

The other scenario is worse - Leach, Ciavarino, Windham and Mullins all crumble against Big Ten opposition and Ty has to play heavy minutes. I'd much rather see those guys playing well and Ty Berry playing 24 minutes a night.

 

[Hungry Jack]

With Barnelli working inside, posting up and angling for a shot, Ty and Jalen need to free up for catch and shoots. Matt is looking for back cuts or lobs. This should be our offense this year.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

With Barnelli working inside, posting up and angling for a shot, Ty and Jalen need to free up for catch and shoots. Matt is looking for back cuts or lobs. This should be our offense this year.

Like the usage of "Barnelli"
A lot.

 

[EagerFan]

I believe Ty has hit 10 of 26 threes so far this year. It doesn't feel like it because the misses come in bunches, but he's pretty close to that 40% we want. Where he is really dying offensively are the "long twos" he takes (3 of 16 there).

Meanwhile KJ, for all he does I like, is sitting at 2 of 19 from three...

 

[Hungry Jack]

Like the usage of "Barnelli"
A lot.

I don't want to say they are interchangeable, but they are similar players, though BB is a better ball handler. Nick is probably a better outside shooter.

BTW, Ty is at 38.5% from 3 this year. But last year he was 45%. That's why it seems he's shooting so poorly.